If I asked you if I could bring dead leaves, rotting apples, animal feces, and dead bugs into your home, would you say yes? Homeowners know that dirt and decay don’t belong in the home. However, did you know that by allowing cockroaches to get into your home, you’re inviting in all the bacteria and diseases associated with all this garbage?
Cockroaches in Hawaii
There are thousands of species of cockroaches in the United States. In Hawaii, four main species commonly infest homes. These are German cockroaches, American cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and brown-banded cockroaches. These range in color from red to brown to yellow. They can grow to about two inches.
Cockroaches are nocturnal bugs, meaning they’re active at night. They are omnivores and will eat just about anything, including other dead cockroaches. Outside, they’ll eat decaying plants, dead bugs, and fecal matter.
Three main factors bring cockroaches as well as other pests inside: food, shelter, and moisture.
The Problem With Cockroaches
Cockroaches don’t bite humans or destroy homes, so why are they considered such a problematic pest? Cockroaches reproduce rapidly ensuring without proper control, a small problem quickly becomes a big one. In a female cockroach's lifespan, she can produce upwards of 200 offspring. As you can imagine, this increases cockroach problems at an exponential rate.
Aside from their fast-growing populations, cockroaches also like to spend their time amidst dank, dark, and decay which harbors harmful bacteria. Some of their common hiding spaces include:
- Trash cans
- Animal droppings
- Decaying plants
- Mud
- Dead bugs and animals
- Rotting food
While they’re rummaging around in these places, cockroaches pick up bacteria and dangerous pathogens. As they make their way into your home, they will carry in these bacteria. Cockroaches are fast and curious. As they explore your home, they carry bacteria into your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. They’ll contaminate cooking surfaces and may even be able to get into your food.
Some of the diseases associated with cockroaches are cholera, dysentery, e.coli, gastroenteritis, salmonellosis, typhoid fever, and more. By letting cockroaches roam your kitchen at night, you are putting your family at risk of contracting an illness. Over time, as your cockroach population increases, so does your risk of getting sick.
As if that isn’t reason enough to keep cockroaches out, they can also cause problems for people with asthma and allergies. The shed skin that cockroaches spread around the house can exacerbate breathing problems associated with asthma or trigger allergies. To keep your family safe, you must take some time to make sure that you aren’t inviting cockroaches and their bacteria into your Hawaii home.
Professional Cockroach Control With Able Pest Management LLC
There are some steps you can take on your own to prevent cockroaches. These include checking the exterior of your home for entry points such as cracks and holes, cleaning your kitchen thoroughly before going to bed, and storing food and trash in containers with airtight lids.
If you attempt to exterminate a cockroach problem on your own, you need to understand that they are difficult to eliminate. Cockroaches have been around and thriving for 300 million years making them one of the oldest insects in the world. Throughout this time, they have adapted, survived, and proven to be incredibly hardy. Many species have developed immunity to common treatments which is why it's best to leave cockroach control to the experts.
If you start to see many cockroaches roaming around your house, it could be time to call for professional backup. Able Pest Management LLC is here to help. Our licensed technicians are trained in identifying cockroaches, determining the extent of their spread, and implementing treatment plans that work for you and your family to yield long-term results. What are you waiting for? Reach out to us today to keep your home clean and cockroach-free.